FACES

The University of Idaho College of Law and Family Advocacy Center and Education Services (FACES) have partnered to provide free legal services to victims of domestic abuse referred from FACES to our new domestic violence experiential learning program. FACES provides services in a safe, private and supportive setting for victims of abuse, domestic violence and sexual assault.

About the program

Accepted students will handle all aspects of representation of survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Individuals seeking services of the program will complete an application in person, when practical, with a student. The student will be responsible for gathering all information needed to determine legal issue at hand and to determine which, if any, legal services will be provided

Students will then present the application to the professor the make a final determination of whether to accept the applicant as a client.

Once accepted, the same student will be assigned to the client to assist throughout the remainder of their representation by the program. They will then be required to handle to all further tasks necessary to ensure the best possible representation of the individual. This includes client interviews, drafting of required pleadings of protective orders and other civil actions, witness interviews, obtaining and reviewing of any and all potential evidence and preparation of the client and other witnesses for hearings before local courts.

It has been a highly rewarding experience working with the domestic violence program. You learn valuable skills interacting with clients, other attorneys and other professionals in and out of the courtroom Taylor Kanthack, 3L Boise

About the Director

Michael Carney oversees the program as the director. For the past 16 years, he has been involved in advocacy for survivors of domestic and sexual violence. As an undergraduate, he was heavily involved in the Sexual Aggression Peer Advocates student group. Through this organization, we ran a 24/7 crisis line for students and surrounding community members to call when they were in need.

After graduating from the University of Missouri School of Law in 2010, he began his career with Mid-Missouri Legal Services, Corp. in Columbia, MO. MMLS is LSC-funded program to provide free civil legal services to low-income individuals. Over the course of the next 7 years, he actively litigated hundreds of cases, including divorce, custody, paternity, evictions, and protection orders, among many others. In 2011, he began an externship program in conjunction with Mizzou Law where advanced law students assist in providing legal representation in housing-related matters. In August 2012, he was hired as an adjunct professor at Mizzou Law, where he led a practicum in housing law and taught a course state and federal landlord/tenant law. Throughout all of this, he continued to support the Mizzou Family Violence Clinic through guest lectures and supervision of law students in representation in protection order cases.

Michael Carney

Michael Carney

How to apply

The program will continue as a Semester in Practice for the Fall 2018 and Spring 2019 semesters. Students at the time of completing the externship/SIP/program, must be 3Ls in good standing. Further, they must apply and be approved for a limited-license through the Idaho Bar and successfully complete a background check. Students must apply and are selected by the program director after an interview process.

To apply, please send Michael Carney via e-mail a brief cover letter explaining your interest and your current resume. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and the positions will remain open until all positions are filled. In your cover letter/e-mail please indicate your preferred semester (Fall or Spring) and whether you would like to be considered for either semester.

Individuals needing assistance can apply by appearing in person at FACES between 8 and 5, M-F or can contact us at 208-577-4495 for more information.

Great hands on experience that you could never get from class alone. If I had the chance, I would sign up for this program for a full year. You get lots of court time and there is never a dull moment. Arielle Collins, 3L Boise